University of Calgary wins inaugural University Challenge Cup

TORONTO – Chris Tobin posted a victory in 100 breaststroke and raced to two more wins in relays to help the University of Calgary earn the inaugural University Challenge Cup swimming competition on Thursday at the Etobicoke Olympium Pool.

Eight of the top university swimming programs were involved in the competition which precedes the Bell Grand Prix which takes place here from Friday to Sunday.

The University of British Columbia, the reigning Canadian Interuniversity champions, placed second in the standings while the University of Western Ontario from London, Ont. took third spot. The other schools involved in the short course competition were Halifax’s Dalhousie University, University of Guelph, McMaster University in Hamilton, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

“It was a great opportunity to race against the other schools outside the national championships,” said Tobin, the U of C team captain. “The atmosphere here was great as it always is for a university competition.”

Tobin was pleased with his performance.

“I didn’t peak for this meet but I still came very close to my personal best time in the 100 breaststroke,” he said. “And in the relays we were missing a key member and still delivered very b performances.”

Pierre Lafontaine, Swimming Canada’s CEO and national coach hopes more interuniversity competitions can follow this format

“The university program is very important to Canada’s development in competitive swimming,” said Lafontaine. “And at this kind of competition, all these swimmers will now have an opportunity to race this weekend at an event like the Bell Grand Prix.”

This weekend the Bell Grand Prix features Canada’s top swimmers including world champion Brent Hayden of Vancouver, Audrey Lacroix of Montreal who is coming off medal performances on the World Cup circuit, Mike Brown of Perth, Ont., and Erica Morningstar of Calgary.

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